THE country’s rubber industry is expected to soar in the coming years following the strengthening of cooperation with China in the field of commodities. 

Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to China on Sunday opened up opportunities for increased cooperation in the field of commodities and agriculture-based industries, including rubber, palm oil, biodiesel, and access for Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market. 

Fadillah, who is also the plantation and commodities minister, added that his ministry was also planning to hold a mission to China to discuss cooperation in developing areas. 

“If you look at it, in terms of rubber, we can focus on the products we produce that are used in the construction industry, which are products that can ensure the buildings can withstand earthquake tremors, for example,” he said after officiating the Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) Technology Day 2023. 

Elaborating on rubber innovations, Fadillah said LGM collaborated with the Tun Abdul Razak Research Center (TARRC) to produce solid technology based on seismic rubber bearing products to deal with structural movements due to temperature changes or protection from tremors due to earthquakes. 

He noted that among the structures in Malaysia built using seismic rubber bearings were the Penang Second Bridge, the Hevea Malaysia Academy building in Langkawi, and the MPOB building in Lahad Datu, Sabah. 

LGM and TARRC also successfully conducted research called NaturalFR. Rubber products produced using NaturalFR compounds have flame-retardant, low-smoke and low toxicity properties, and have been used for the door entrances of several railway stations in the United Kingdom. 

The same council also witnessed the exchange of two agreements, namely the memorandum of agreement between LGM and Jupiter Solution, Natrab MFBI Enterprise and the Malaysian Rubber Council as well as the commercialisation cooperation agreement between LGM and the MRC to promote LGM’s innovations at home and abroad. – Bernama, September 19, 2023.